Two-zone production



ET AL 2,811,924

2 Sheets-Sheet Nov. 5, 1957 1 B. CARPENTER, JR..

' Two-ZONE PRODUCTION Filed Nov. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. B. CARPENTER, JR., ET AL TWO-ZONE PRODUCTION Nov. 5, 1957 Filed Nov. 29, 1955 TWO-ZONE PRODUCTION Louis B. Carpenter, Jr., Oklahoma City, and Allen L.

Smith, Ardmore, Okla., assignors to Gulf Oil Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 29, 1955, Serial No. 549,632

6 Claims. (Cl. 10S-4) This invention relates to apparatus for separately and concurrently producing oil from vertically spaced producing horizons, and more particularly pertains to such apparatus wherein the gases of the producing horizons are separately produced.

Briefly, one aspect of the invention pertains to a twoway crossover that laterally diverts two uid streams from paths such that one surrounds the other to laterally spaced parallel paths. Such crossover includes a body having a vertical passageway therethrough, the lower portion of such passageway being larger in cross section than the upper portion, with the same being adapted to receive the upper ends of depending inner and outer tubings within the upper and lower portions of the passageway, respectively. The body is also provided with a pair of further passageways extending from the top of the body with one of them intersecting the upper portion of the vertical passageway and the other intersecting the lower portion of the Vertical passageway, the arrangement being such that one of the further passageways will communicate with the interior of the inner tubing while the other passageway will communicate with the annular space between the inner and outer tubings.

Yet another aspect of the invention involves the upper and lower strings of production tubing associated with the upper and lower producing horizons being connected to the crossover in alignment with the Vertical passageway through the crossover, and means for preventing uid communication between the upper and lower strings of production tubing through the vertical passageway of the crossover. Furthermore, where either one or both of the producing horizons require pumping, the invention admits of the use of a sucker rod extending through the vertical passageway of the crossover and being operatively connected to pumps associated with the upper and lower strings of production tubing, with sealing means cooperating with the sucker rod for preventing iluid communication between the upper and lower strings of production tubing through the vertical passageway of the crossover.

The invention will be better appreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, together with a detailed description thereof.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken elevational View of the well producing apparatus shown in operative position within a sectionalized well;

Figure 2 is a broken elevational View of surface equipment used for pumping the well;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away and shown in section, illustrating in particular the crossover and adjacent components; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the crossover with hidden portions being shown in dotted outline.

Referring to Figures 1, and 2 of the drawings, the numeral designates 'a borehole in which is positioned a conventional oil well casing 12 closed at its upper end by a tubing head 14.

States Patent ice The casing 12 is provided with vertically spaced sets of perforations 16 and 18 for affording fluid communication between vertically spaced producing horizons with the interior of the casing 12. Fluids entering the casing 12 through the perforations 16 .are prevented from commingling with the fluids entering the casing 12 through the perforations 18 by a packer 20. Fluids entering the casing 12 through the perforations 16 are produced by means of a string of production tubing 22, which is provided adjacent its lower end with a sucker-rod actuated pump (which can be either the tubing or insert type, preferably the latter). Fluid enters the tubing 22 through a perforated inlet pipe 24 below the pump. The fluids produced through the production tubing 22 are largely if not entirely liquid, inasmuch as gases entering the casing 12 above the packer 2t) reach the surface through the annular space intermediate the production tubing 22 and the casing 12 and are discharged through la pipe 26 that extends through the tubing head 14.

The lower end of the perforated inlet pipe 24 is connected to a two-way crossover 23 by means of a tubing 30 that is suitably secured to the perforated pipe 24 as by a collar 32.

As will be seen in detail in Figures 3, and 4, the twoway crossover 28 comprises a substantially cylindrical body having an eccentrically positioned vertical passageway 34 extending therethrough, the lower portion 36 of which is substantially larger than the upper portion 38 and which, in the preferred construction, is offset towards the center of the body of the crossover 2S. ln the preferred construction, the tubing 30 is preferably connected to the crossover by means of being threaded into the upper end of the upper portion 38 of the vertical passageway 34.

An outer or packer tubing 46 is disposed below the crossover 28, having its upper end threaded into the lower end of the lower portion 36 of the vertical passageway 34. The packer 2t) is carried by the outer tubing 46, the tubing 46 being preferably provided with a safety joint 42 intermediate the crossover 2S and the packer 20.

Eccentrically extending through the tubing 40 is an inner or lower production tubing 44, the upper end of which is threaded into the lower part of the upper portion 33 of the vertical passageway 34.

The crossover 2S is provided with additional L-shaped passageways 46 and 47 that extend vertically from the top of the crossover 28, with the lower portion 43 of the passageway 46 extending laterally to intersect the upper portion 38 of the vertical passageway 34, and the lower portion 49 of the passageway 47 extending laterally to intersect the lower portion 36 of the vertical passageway 34. The arrangement is such that the passageway 46 communicates with the interior of the inner production tubing 44, while the passageway 47 communicates with the annular space between the tubings 40 and 44.

The lower production tubing 44 is provided adjacent its lower end with a sucker-rod actuated pump (either the tubular or insert type, preferably the latter). Fluid enters the tubing 44 and its pump through a perforated inlet pipe 50.

A sucker rod 52 extends through the strings of tubing 22 and 44, the tubing 30 and the vertical passageway 34 in the crossover 28, such sucker rod 52 being operatively connected to the pumps disposed above the inlet pipes 24 and Sti associated with the strings of tubing 22 and 44 for concurrent actuation by conventional means, not shown. The upper end portion of the sucker rod 52 passes upwardly through a polished-rod stutiing box 54 that closes the upper end of the tubing 22 (see Figure 2), and is operatively connected to a conventional pumping jack partially shown at 56. A pair of additional strings of production tubing 58 and 60 are provided which are substantially coextensive vertically with the tubing 22,

theilower ends of the tubings 58 and 60 being threadingly connected to the passageways 46 and 47 ofthe crossover 28, respectively. The upper ends of the tubings S8 and 60 extend through the tubing head 14, as shown in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 3, a seal plunger62, slidable in a sleeve.63.that is removably seated and sealed in the tubing 30, is fixed Vto the sucker rod 52 for preventing fluid communication through the tubing 30.

It is believed that the operation of the illustrated embodiment of the invention will be easily understood. Operation of the pump jack 56 reciprocates the sucker rod 52, thereby actuating the pumps disposed above the perforated inlet pipes 24 and 50 associated with production tubings 22 and 44.

Upon such pump actuation, liquids ventering the casing 12 through the perforations 16 enter the tubing 22 through the perforated inlet pipe 24 and are pumped upwardly through the production tubing 22 to be discharged at the surface through a lateral pipe 64 to storage tanks or the like, not shown. It will be noted that vthe seal plunger 62 prevents such liquids from descending into the crossover 2S. On the other hand, liquids entering the casing 12 through the perforations 1S enter the tubing 44 through the perforated inlet pipe 50 and are pumped upwardly through the production tubing 44 into the crossover 28, and thence to the surface through the passageway 46 and the tubing 58.

The above-described pumping of liquids through the production tubings 22 and 44 is free from gas locking as gases entering the casing 12 through the perforations 16 are vented to the surface and discharged to pipe lines or storage through the pipe 26, as mentioned previously, whilegases entering through the perforations 18 are vented along a path that includes the annular space between the tubings 40 and 44, the passageway 47 and the tubing 60.

One of the principal advantages obtainable through practice of the principles of this invention is that great freedom of choice as to the vertical spacing of the pumps, the packer, and the crossover is attained. Perhaps, the most important laspect of such flexibility is that the lower pump can be positioned as far below the packer as may be desired. Also, as the packer can be positioned at substantially any location between the producing horizons, the same can be placed in an optimum position for obtaining sufiicient vertical space with respect to each producing horizon for maximum separation of gases and liquids. The importance of these advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Another advantage due to the alignment of the production tubings and the vertical passageway, when insert pumps are used, is that all wearing parts can be removed for repair or replacement without having to pull any tubing.

Besides the advantages of the simplicity of the design of the two-way crossover and its consequent low cost and durability, the two-way crossover of this invention affords the advantages of affording relatively easy installation, while being of small overall vertical height. Being of small overall vertical height is of substantial importance in that it permits the packer to be positioned very close to the upper producing horizon, thus allowing a maximum vertical space for oil and gas separation therebelow, without necessitating positioning the upper pump in a higher location.

It is apparent that the principles of the invention can be employed where either one or both of the producing horizons do not require pumping, with pumping being conveniently resorted to as reservoir energy becomes insuicient.

It will be apparent that substantial changes can be made in the illustrated form of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Also, the apparatus is adapted .for the inclusion-of conventional elements customarily included in pumping installations with little or no modification of such elements, such inclusion being well within the skill of persons familiar with this field. For example, tubing clamps, hangers, tubing drains, etc. can be used.

The above-detailed description has been given for the purpose of conveying a full and complete understanding of the invention, and the attention given to details should not be interpretedasimplying a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Attention is directed to the appended claims for determining the actual scope of the invention.

We claim:

l. Well producing apparatus comprising upper and lower strings of production tubing, a substantially larger tubing surrounding an upper portion of the lower string of production tubing to define a space therebetween, first and second strings of tubing substantially coextensive vertically with the upper string of production tubing, crossover Vmeansconnecting the lower ends-of the upper string of production tubing and the first and second strings of tubing to the upper ends of the lower string of production tubing and the `tubing surrounding the latter for affording fluid communication between the lower string vof production tubing and the first string of tubing, and also for affording fluid communication between said space and the second/string of tubing, means for preventing free-fluid communication between the upper and lower strings lof production tubing, and packing means for isolating spaces surrounding the upper and lower strings of production tubing from each other.

2. The combination of yclaim l, wherein said crossover means comprises a bQdY having a vertical passageway therethrough, the lower portion of such passageway being larger in cross section than the upper portion, and a pair of further passageways inthe body, each of the further passageways extending fro-m the top of the body with one of them intersecting the upper'portion and the other intersecting the lower portion of the vertical passageway, the upper end portion of the lower string of production tubing and the upper end ofthe tubing surrounding the same being received in the upper and lower portions of the vertical passageway, respectively, the lower end portion of the upper string of production tubing being received in the vertical passageway, Vand the lower end portions of the first and second strings of tubing being received in the pair of passageways.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein each of the upper and lower strings of production tubing is provided adjacent its lower end with a pump for pumping fluid ambient thereto, and a common means extending through the vertical passageway and the packing means for actuating the pumps.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said common means is ,an elongated reciprocable member, and means for reciprocating the member.

5. The combination of claim l, wherein the packing means is carried by the tubing surrounding the lower string of production tubing.

6. Well-producing apparatus comprising a crossover body having a vertical passageway therethrough, the lower portion of such passageway being larger in cross section than the upper portion, first and second passageways in the body each extending from the top of the body and intersecting the upper and lower portions of the vertical passageway, respectively, an outer tubing and a substantially smaller inner tubing disposed therein to define a space therebetween, said tubings being disposed below the body and having their upper end portions in fluid tight engagement with the' body within the lower and upper portions of the vertical passageway, respectively, whereby the first passageway has communication with the interior of the inner tubing and the second passageway has `communication with the space between the tubings, a further tubing disposed above the body and having its lower end portion .in fluid tight engagement with ,the body within the upper portion of the vertical passageway, a pair of additional tubings also disposed above the body and having their lower end portions in uid tight engagement with the body within the upper ends of the first and second passageways, a sucker rod extending through the vertical passageway and adjacent portions of the inner tubing and the further tubing, and sealing means cooperating with the sucker rod for preventing free-fluid communication between the interior of the inner tubing and the further tubing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

